BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Julian de Mora Jr.’s Gianluca Be Lucky will enter the starting gate for Saturday’s $100,000 Smoke Glacken at Monmouth Park as a maiden but won’t be the only juvenile trying for their first victory. Among the nine 2-year-olds set for the six-furlong test, five will be looking to make the winner’s circle for the first time.
Trainer Jorge Delgado, who has won with 25% of his 28 maiden second-time starters this year according to statistics published in Daily Racing Form, enters Gianluca Be Lucky off a troubled third-place finish in a five-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight won by Ellinger at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3. Gianluca Be Lucky was trapped on the rail behind the pace-setting Ellinger throughout the five-and-a-half-furlong contest until finally finding running room at the top of the stretch.
By Flatter out of Starship Diva, by Eltish and bred in Florida by Monarch Farm, Gianluca Be Lucky is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales. He did not meet his reserve at the 2023 October Yearling Sale but brought $70,000 on a final bid by De Mora at this year’s March Sale where he was consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm.
Gianluca Be Lucky has post three and is 6-1 on the morning line. No rider had been named at press time.
Royal Performance is the program favorite at 3-1 based on his three-quarter-length victory in his lone start for trainer Kelly Breen.
The gelded son of Oscar Performance will make his first start in open company having won against state-bred special weight maidens going five furlongs at Monmouth on July 26.
Royal Performance will race in the royal blue colors of owner Roseland Farm Stable and will carry Joe Bravo from post four.
Fifth behind Royal Performance was J J Zo Zo, who is the second choice on the morning line for the Smoke Glacken at 7-2.
J J Zo Zo has since won a state-bred maiden special weight by a head going five-and-a-half furlongs on Aug. 25 for trainer Jose Sanchez and owner Jose A. Garcia.
Jairo Rendo has the mount on J J Zo Zo and they will depart from post one.
Completing the entries are Resilient Hero and jockey Jorge Vargas Jr., Dominican Thunder with Isaac Castillo in the saddle, My Military Hero has Samy Camacho named to ride, Noble Force does not have a jockey named at press time, Samuel Marin takes the call on Shootergottashoot and Antisocial will be ridden by Fernando Jara.
